With millions of commercial trucks traveling on the roadways across the nation, it is no wonder that motorists in Virginia and elsewhere are used to sharing the roads with the massive vehicles. These large trucks are beneficial and valuable to society, as they provide a adequate and favorable method to transport goods and products. However, commercial trucks pose many risks, even causing serious and fatal truck accidents.
According to current statistics, the number of truck accidents occurring on the roadways across the nation is increasing. In fact, when considering the data from the past decade, the number of truck crashes has increased by 20 percent. As this is an alarming discovery, researchers wanted to explore what was causing such a peak.
A shocking statistic uncovered was that the majority of truck accidents were caused by mistakes made by a truck driver. This study examines 120,000 fatal commercial truck accidents over a 33-month time span. Of these crashes, 75 percent involved at least one other vehicle. When looking at fault, a truck driver was at fault in 68,000 of these crashes.
There is a wide array of reasons for these crashes. This study explored these causes further, finding four major causes for these crashes. First, decisions made by the truck driver cause truck accidents. This includes decisions to speed, follow too closely to other vehicles or misjudging the speed of other vehicles. A second reason is recognition. This refers to a truck driver being distracted or inattentive to the road, causing them to fail to observe or recognize a situation that requires action.
The third cause is nonperformance. This means that the truck driver fell asleep, is suffering from a medical condition or has some form of impairment that caused the truck driver to fail to perform behind the wheel. The final cause was performance. This refers to the truck driver not exercising good directional control, overcompensates or panics behind the wheel.
No matter the cause of a truck accident, it is important that victims take the time to fully understand the situation. This goes beyond determining cause and liability. It means calculating damages suffered and seeking compensation through a personal injury action for any losses experienced by the accident.